HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana men's basketball team wraps up its 2013-14 regular-season schedule this week with Southland Conference contests Thursday at Sam Houston State and Saturday at Lamar.
Thursday's game against the Bearkats (19-9, 11-5 Southland) is slated to tip at 7:45 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum, while Saturday's game at the Montagne Center against Lamar (3-25, 2-14 Southland) is scheduled for 6 p.m. Both games will follow the Lady Lions' games as part of doubleheader action.
All games can be heard in the Hammond area on KSLU 90.9 FM, online and either the KSLU or TuneIn Radio smartphone app. Fans can also keep up with the game with live statistics. Links for audio and stats are available on the men's basketball schedule page at www.LionSports.net.
Despite shooting over 70 percent from the floor ( 10-of-14, 71.4 percent) in the second half last time out, Southeastern (11-16, 6-10 Southland) fell, 75-62, to Stephen F. Austin as the Lumberjacks (27-2, 16-0 Southland) stayed undefeated in conference play.
Seniors
Antonnio Benton (18 points, eight rebounds) and
Jeffery Ricard (12 points, eight rebounds) led the way for Southeastern against SFA.
Onochie Ochie chipped in 11 points, while
Devonte Upson and senior
Dre Evans each contributed eight points to the Lions' scoring efforts. Southeastern shot 57.6 percent from the floor (19-of-33) for the game.
Overall this season,
JaMichael Hawkins (12.5 points per game) and Benton (12.1 ppg, 6.4 rebounds) lead the Lions in scoring. Evans (2.9 assists) and
Joshua Filmore (3.0 apg) have split time at the point directing the Lions' offense.
As a team Southeastern is averaging 70.2 points, on 44.5 percent shooting, and 32.3 rebounds. Opponents are averaging 72.9 points, making the Lions' scoring margin eighth-best in the conference.
Southeastern's magic number for securing a second-straight trip to the Southland Conference Tournament is two. Any combination of two Lion wins and/or Central Arkansas losses will clinch a spot for Southeastern.
Jabari Peters (13.1 ppg, 3.9 apg), Kaheem Ranson (11.5 ppg) and Michael Holyfield (6.3 rpg) pace the Sam Houston squad. As a team the Bearkats are averaging 77.3 points, on 46.4 percent shooting, and 35.2 rebounds.
Sam Houston has dropped three of its past four games, falling to SFA, Oral Roberts and Central Arkansas. The only win in that stretch was 74-71 win at Lamar on Feb. 22.
Lamar has lost its last seven games following a 59-57 win, Jan. 30, against Houston Baptist. The last three defeats have come under the guidance of interim head coach Tic Price following the Feb. 16 dismissal of former coach Pat Knight.
Former Lion Donovan Ross (11 ppg, 5.1 rpg) is one of four Lamar players averaging double-figure points this season, including Nimrod Hilliard (14.1 ppg), Amos Wilson (10.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Rhon Mitchell (10.7 ppg). As a team the Cardinals are averaging a conference-low 66.1 points, on 43.7 percent shooting, and 31.1 rebounds.
All-session tickets for the 2014 Southland Conference Basketball Tournament, to be held March 12-16 at the Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, are on sale through the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office located in the Dugas Center for Southeastern Athletics. Reserved all-tournament booklets and general admission all-tournament booklets are available by calling (985) 549-LION.
The men's tournament gets underway Wednesday, March 12 with first-round games at 5 and 7:30 p.m., CT. Men's second-round games will be played Thursday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and the semifinal games will be played Friday at 5 and 7:30 p.m. The men's championship game will be played Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and be televised on ESPN2.
The winners of the conference men's tournament will earn the Southland Conference's automatic bid into the NCAA tournaments. The NCAA Men's Final Four will be held April 5 and 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
